UK Athletics have made it abundantly clear that they did not want to select Dwain Chambers for the World Indoor Championships in Valencia.

The 29-year-old was named in the Great Britain side to travel to Spain next month after his victory in the 60metres in a world-class time of 6.56seconds at the trials in Sheffield last weekend.

However, UKA had already made it clear they did not want Chambers to represent Great Britain and issued a strongly-worded statement when they announced the first wave of selections yesterday.

The statement read: "The committee was unanimous in its desire not to select Dwain.

"Unfortunately, the committee felt that the selection criteria pertaining to the winner of the trials, coupled with the manner of Dwain's performance, left them no room to take any other decision.

"Taking him to the World Indoors deprives young, upwardly mobile committed athletes of this key development opportunity.

"Our World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) is focused on achievement at Olympic and World level. On this basis, it is extremely frustrating to leave young athletes at home, eligible for Beijing, in possession of the qualifying standard and committed to ongoing participation in a drug-free sport.

"In contrast, we have to take an individual whose sudden return, especially when considered against his previous actions and comments, suggests that he may be using the whole process for his own."

Performance director Dave Collins says UKA have not bowed to the pressure of a potential legal battle and was adamant that memories of the costly court action with Diane Modahl which bankrupted the sport a decade ago had not been an issue when they selected the drug cheat.

Collins said: "I can say with confidence that wasn't on my mind. I was keeping my eye on the ball against performance criteria and the purpose of the selection committee."

He said he and his co-selectors had followed the same formula they used at all meetings and had not been pressurised by anyone into ignoring Chambers claims.

Collins said: "All other things apart, he performed well at the weekend. There was a clear argument to take him and he could bring home a medal."

Yet Collins is not convinced of Chambers' commitment and believes he may return to play American football, saying: "I don't have personal evidence to that effect but I am looking at his actions and saying 'is this a guy who is going to be committed to athletics in the long term'.

"Is he going to come in and be part of the process and put himself on the out-of-competition register? I have not asked Dwain if he is going to do that.

"It was frustrating picking him and I wonder is he being driven to do this for personal publicity."

Chambers had a positive answer after hearing he would be lining up in the Palacio de Deportes Luis Puig when the 60m heats get under way on March 7.

"I'm delighted by the decision that was made," said Chambers, knowing his only other option of gaining selection was through his lawyers taking court action claiming his non-selection was "restriction of trade."

"I want to thank the selectors for what I know was a hard decision for themselves to make," he said.

Chambers, who last ran for his country in the 2006 European Championships 4x100m gold medal winning side, is determined to justify their faith.

The Londoner, said: "I'll let my legs do the talking for the decision that's been made and bring home a medal for my country."

Collins said that Chambers, who is ineligible for UK Sport lottery money because of his drug conviction, would be treated exactly the same as every other member of the squad in the build-up to the World Indoors. He said: "We will underwrite his expenses from UKA funds and treat him the same way as every member of the team."

Chambers' solicitor, Nick Collins, had already said before yesterday's announcement that they would take UKA to the High Court for "restraint of trade" if he were omitted.

However, Chambers will not be given the opportunity of using this Saturday's Norwich Union Grand Prix at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham as preparation for the championships.

Fast Track, who organise the meeting on behalf of UK Athletics (UKA), have taken the decision that his appearance would not benefit the event. Jon Ridgeon, FT's managing director, said: "Dwain Chambers will not be invited to compete at the Norwich Union Grand Prix on Saturday. Under IAAF rules, the event promoters have the right to invite whoever they wish, and both UK Athletics and Fast Track do not want the world's No 1 indoor meet to be overshadowed by this issue.

"This is not a personal matter with regards to Dwain Chambers but a view taken as part of our responsibility towards protecting the image of the sport."

As expected, the team for Valencia includes heptathlete Kelly Sotherton, of Birchfield Harriers.

* Asafa Powell, the 100 metres world record-holder, has been forced to withdraw form this weekend's grand prix meeting in Sydney after cutting his knee. Powell required stitches in the knee after he tripped as he ascended the stairs in his home in Jamaica last week. He said that although his training programme had been delayed he would soon resume his preparations for the Olympic Games in Beijing in August.